Netflix has just announced its first ever French original series, a “tale of power, corruption and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the French port city,” titled Marseille. Production is set to kick off next spring and it’ll land in all Netflix markets in late 2015.

The drama’s creator and writer is Dan Franck, who co-wrote the Golden Globe-winning miniseries Carlos. French speakers may also know him as the man behind La Separation and Les Hommes de l’ombre.

“Creating a series for an enormous audience and without any constraints will let us push to its limits a story about the Shakespearean theater of politics in a city where Alexandre Dumas and Jean-Claude Izzo, among others, have planted many spears,” said Dan Franck. “Netflix has given us a blank page to create a House of Cards in French that breaks through unspoken hypocrisy. This is a writer’s dream and a great opportunity for French producers and creators to enter a new world.”

The House of Cards nod seems apt, considering Marseille will be deeply political in focus. Netflix says that…

Marseille focuses on the story of Robert Taro, mayor of the city for 25 years. The coming elections have him face the man he chose as his heir, an ambitious youngster aiming high. Both candidates will fight mercilessly. Marseille stages a fight around revenge, animated by drug lords, politicians, unions and the political players of the city.

“Marseille is an ambitious, diabolically smart fictitious exploration of local politics in one of the world’s most vibrant and fascinating cities.” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “We are delighted to be working with some of the best storytellers in France to deliver a series that erases the line between film and television.”

The new series is French through and through – not only in content but in production. This announcement comes as Netflix prepares to finally launch in France, along with five other European countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. That should happen later this year.

Image via Wikimedia Commons